In 1922, Ottawa was a booming centre of industry and government with a rapidly growing population and plenty of job opportunities for soldiers returning from the First World War. Defenders was formed due to two driving forces coming together:

Active masons from other lodges throughout Canada finding jobs in Ottawa,

Returning solidiers who left the service looking for the fraternal camraderie of the forces once they switched careers.

The active Masons that had moved to Ottawa, finding themelves far from their original lodges, tried to affiliate with the existing lodges in the Ottawa District. Their applications, together with those of the new soldiers returning from the war, inundated the existing lodges, which led to several new lodges being formed, of which Defenders was one.

A proposal was made by a group of brethren, many of whom worked in the Department of Soldiers Civil Re-establishment, to establish a Craft Lodge in Ottawa, with membership to be restricted to returned servicemen. Defenders was born. Our lodge was Constituted on October 23,1922.

As time marched on, membership was extended to both military and non-military alike. We at Defenders Lodge take great pride in our history and founding military members.

Fraternally Yours,

Vy. Wor. Bro. Keith Noble

Meeting Schedule

Defenders meets on the first and third Wednesday of the month at 7:30pm at the Masonic Centre, 2140 Walkley Road in Ottawa.

We conduct our business on the first Wednesday, and work the craft on the third.